Mike James makes his Anadolu Efes debut with a win and tactical questions

Mike James stepped onto the court in an Anadolu Efes jersey for the first time, and immediately, the eyes of the entire arena were on him. Finishing the game with 14 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists in a 76-71 win over Trabzonspor, James had a debut that was not spectacular but enough to make analysts start asking: What is his real role in this new system? This is a preseason friendly, but the signals from it are anything but 'experimental.' I once wrote: 'Those who watch the game see the result. Those who read the game see the process. Those who understand the game see both.' Today, I want to see all three. The context of this game is special. James joined Efes from AS Monaco after a season in which he led the EuroLeague in scoring, averaging 18.2 points per game. But leaving Monaco was not just a professional decision. Many sources suggest he had a falling out with head coach Sasa Obradovic, and the move to Efes can be seen as a 'change of scenery' both career-wise and psychologically. On Efes' side, the Istanbul club just had a busy transfer period, bringing in Mike James, Dario Šarić, Daron Russell, Jordan Loyd, and Kai Jones at once. They do not hide their ambition to compete for the EuroLeague Final Four, but with a core that is more experienced than young, the question of cohesion was raised from the start. Can a group of 'veterans' in their 30s collectively create magic, or will they become a locker room full of egos? In this game, Efes used various backcourt combinations. James did not play many minutes, as part of load management, but in the time he was on court, he showed notable signals. Efes' offense was mainly pick-and-roll, and James was the primary ball handler. However, his assist count remained at 3 – a modest number for someone considered the 'engine' of the offense. This suggests that James' task in this game was not to orchestrate the entire match, but to take on the direct scoring role. He scored 14 points, not explosive, but still showcased his ability to create opportunities from one-on-one situations. Basketball is not just about numbers. It is about the stories that numbers don't know how to tell. Looking at the roster, the emergence of Daron Russell – who scored a game-high 16 points – is a notable highlight. Russell and James are both score-first guards with ball-handling and shot-creation ability. The presence of both creates a 'two-alpha' dynamic in the backcourt, and without clear role definition, both wanting to control the ball could become an issue. But in this game, head coach Tomislav Mijatović likely rotated to experiment, and Russell stood out more by maximizing his minutes. Another bright spot was Dario Šarić with 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists – a 'versatile' performance from the forward position, hinting at the possibility of using him as a 'point-forward' – a secondary playmaker for the team. If Šarić can facilitate consistently, James would be freed from creative duties to focus on his scoring strengths, creating a perfect complementary pair. However, winning by only 5 points against Trabzonspor – a team below Efes' level – is a detail that made me pause. Of course, this is preseason, and no team goes all out at this stage. But newcomers like James, Šarić, and Russell are players who have competed at the highest level; they should have made a bigger difference against a far weaker opponent. The stagnation at certain moments shows that the connection among new members is not yet smooth. Based on my experience watching games, I know that preseason is for experimentation and should not be rushed to conclusions. But if an offense with so much talent only scores 76 points against a weaker team, the problem may lie in coordination, not individual ability. I have also made the mistake of hastily trusting a team that looked better on paper, and the lesson of 2026 taught me: 'The smartest person is not the one who is always right, but the one who knows they can be wrong.' Therefore, I choose to observe more before passing judgment. Humility is not a lack of confidence. It is confidence that has been tested by failure. The biggest question this game leaves is how Efes will define James' role: a pure 'scorer' or a complete 'playmaker'? If he is just to score, James might still be very effective, but if the team wants him to be the primary creator, the 3 assists will need to improve significantly. More importantly, the relationship between him and Russell will be key. Can they both shine on the court, or will they split ball-handling duties? The first game has no answer, but it has laid the foundation for a promising season. For a team rich in experience, time is a commodity they do not have in abundance.